THE M&GN CIRCLE - A Historical Study Group

The M&GN Circle was formed in 1959 by a group of enthusiasts who wished to exchange information about the history of the line. Today, nearly 65 years on, the Circle has grown to around 250 members, who include among their ranks a number of ex railway employees, a very few from the time when the railway was still an entity in its own right and more from later times.  As a result of Circle members' contributions over the last 65 years, the M&GN is "probably the most comprehensively researched railway in the British Isles".


Railwaymen who served the M&GN have contributed their knowledge to the Circle Archives. Here they are reunited at Weybourne, North Norfolk Railway in 2009.

The Circle Committee & Contacts


President Robert Palmer
President Elect/PRO Elected one year before completion of the current term
Secretary David Bodicoat
PRO / Bulletin Distributor Malcolm Banyer
Membership Secretary Joe Greaves
Treasurer Richard Adderson
Editor Richard Walker
Photo-archivist Adrian Whittaker
Archivist Peter Bower
Drawings John Hobden
Index Compiler Joe Greaves

The M&GN Circle Bulletin

Issued every month since 1959, The Circle Bulletin has passed issue 750, that’s more than 9000 pages of reminiscences, photos and information. The index alone covers over 230 A4 pages! We also have a lively online electronic discussion group known as the Circle E-line, which adds further to the range of material published in the Bulletin. Membership of this group is restricted to Circle members.

The Circle has been very fortunate to have many ex M&GN employees amongst its members and they have shared their knowledge of the old line through the pages of the Circle Bulletin. Articles range from topics such as locomotive workings through the diaries of a platelayer to scholarly examinations of a possible 'Master Plan' for the early lines and a highly detailed treatise on Marriott Reinforced Concrete. The articles above from Bulletin 596 are personal recollections of events on the railway in wartime. One of them is a letter written by Alan Wells, an M&GN driver, to a railway enthusiast friend. An index of our bulletins is available to download below.

Recent topics covered in The Bulletin have included:

Bulletin Index

Click for the Circle Bulletin Index

Meetings and Events

The Circle holds a number of open meetings at venues across the territory formerly served by the line. Speakers include former railwaymen who are able to recount their memories of the old line and others who have studied aspects of its history.

Members sometimes bring along memorabilia, documents and artefacts for discussion. These usually trigger memories which can result in articles for publication in our monthly Bulletin. Forthcoming meetings are usually advertised in the monthly Bulletin and on the front page of the website.

Popular places for meetings include Peterborough, Spalding, King's Lynn, Norwich, Melton Constable and Cromer. Open air Summer meetings are usually held at venues such as Barton House Railway near Wroxham.

The Circle works closely with the M&GN Society who support the North Norfolk Railway, so naturally there are meetings held which involve visits to and trips on the preserved line from Sheringham to Holt.

The M&GN E-Group

The Circle runs an electronic discussion group on groups.io. This is open to members only and is used for discussion of all matters relating to the railway. Many queries have been answered through this discussion and the results published in the Bulletin. The e-group also gives a chance to give out urgent news that would be too late if left for the next monthly Bulletin. Examples of this are items which are coming up for auction which might be of interest to members and also the prices realised by these items.